Fence



(No Model.)

N. FRENCH.

FENCE.

No. 381,496. Patented Apr. 1'7, 1888.

i7 LJEWIF.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NAHUM \V. FRENCH, OF NORTH HAVERHILL, NE\V HAMPSHIRE.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 381,496, dated April 17, 1888.

Application filed December 31, 1887. Serial No. 259,516.

To all whom, it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, NAHUM W. FRENCH, of North Haverhill, in the county of Grafton and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fences; and it consists in a clasp which is made from a piece of wire passed around the post and secured in position by twisting or otherwise fastening its ends together, and which has a loop or projection formed upon one side, a wedge which is placed upon the loop and secured thereto, and a wedge which is passed down through the loop for the purpose of securing the wire against the post, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple device for fastening wires or rails to metallic or wooden posts of any shape or size, and which can be adjusted to the post at any place without disturbing those already attached, and to securely hold the double and twisted wires from untwisting and becoming slack when metal posts are used.

Figure l is a perspective of a wire clasp and the wedge separated from each other. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the clasp and wedge ap plied to a post. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the wedge removed and the wire fastened in position against the post.

A represents a fence-post, made either of wood, iron, or any other material and any desired shape that may be preferred. Applied to this post at any desired point is a clasp, B,

' which is made from a single piece of wire and which is tightened in position upon the post by having its ends 0 twisted or otherwise rigidly fastened together. These clasps may either he slipped down into position over the top of the posts or they may be applied direetly to the post just at that point where they are to be secured in position, and then have theirendstwisted orfastened together. Formed upon one side of each clasp is a loop or extension, C, which is intended to pass through the (No model.)

board or rail, or between a strand of twisted wire, for the purpose of securing them in position. The loop or extension 0 is formed upon the clasp at the time the clasp is formed, so as to be ready to receive the wedge I, which must be used where the fence is being made of twisted strands of wire.

If a clasp is to be used with a rail or board, a suitable slot is formed through it, and then the extension is passed through the slot, and a pin, key, or other wedge-shaped fastening device, G, is driven down through the extension or loop, so as to wedge the board or rail tightly against the side of the post.

\Vhere strands of twisted wire are to be secured to the post, it would be next to impossible to pass the wire over the loop or exten sion, and hence in connection with each clasp the detachable wedge 1 is used. This wedge is pointed at its outer edge, has its inner edge divided, and through this divided end are made suitable openings through which a pin, J, is passed. The pin passes through the end of the wedge after it has been placed over the loop and through the loop, as shown,'so as to fasten the wedge in position upon the loop. When the twisted strand of wire is forced against the outer edge of the wedge, the wires separate, so as to pass upon each side of the wedge, and they are then forced inward over the wedge until they rest against the side of the post upon opposite sides of the loop or extension upon the clasp. The pin is then removed from the wedge, the wedge removed from the loop, and then a wedge-shaped key or pin is driven down through the loop or extension, so as to lock the wire rigidly against the post. By separating the strands of wire as here shown they are prevented from untwisting and becoming slack when metallic posts are used, and the strands are drawn tightly together by separating the wires. Should it be desired, the clasp is equally adapted for fastening single wires, either barbed or plain, against the side of the post. Either the clasp may be placed around both the wire and the post and then fastened in position or the clasp may be applied to the post, the wire moved against the side of the post, and then fastened by means of a key. The clasp is equally well adapted for plain or barbed wire, for single wires, or for strands of wires, just as may be preferred. One great advantage in the construction here shown con sists in the fact that the clasps can be applied to the post wherever they are needed, and thus do away with all necessity for having to remove or loosen the other wires when it becomes necessary to use an additional one.

If desired, the wedge may be made as a part of the clasp; but it is preferable to make the clasp of wire and to use the wedge only for the purpose of separating the wires while they are being forced in position, and then to remove the wedge afterward. In case it is desired to remove a clasp at any time, it is only necessary to untwist the ends 0, when the clasp can be removed without disturbing any other portion of the fence.

NAHUM w. FRENCH.

\Vitnesses:

GEO. W. CHAPMAN, J OHN W. J AOKSON. 

